County Council Recognizes Villanova Students for hosting Special Olympics Fall Festival

Caption for photo: Shown at the Council meeting are, front from left, Villanova student advisor Lori Blake, student committee member Rebecca Simoni, Councilman Dave White, students Lauren Cebulski and Sean Dolan and, back row, Council Chairman Tom McGarrigle, Councilman and Villanova alumnus John McBlain, Council Vice Chair Mario J. Civera Jr. and Councilwoman Colleen Morrone. Fall Festival takes place Nov. 1-3.

Delaware County Council recognized the students of Villanova University for hosting the Pennsylvania Special Olympics Fall Festival competition for 25 years, presenting the students with a resolution at Council’s Oct. 23 meeting.

Three members of the 90-member student committee accepted Council’s resolution recognizing the students’ commitment and service to the athletes and the community.

This year’s Fall Festival is set for Nov. 1-3 on the campus of Villanova University in Radnor Township. The Villanova students will host 1,000 athletes, 400 coaches and 4,000 volunteers for three days of competition, special events and friendship.

“Delaware County is very proud that we have many fine universities within the county and one of those fine universities is Villanova,” said County Councilman Dave White. “Today, we recognize the students of Villanova for their service and commitment to the community that reaches beyond the university campus, and in fact, reaches across the Commonwealth.”

The Fall Festival at Villanova is the largest student-run Special Olympics event in the world. The committee of 90 students works all year planning every aspect of the event, including housing, meals, organizing volunteers, special events and ceremonies, and competition in volleyball, soccer, bocce, long distance running, powerlifting and roller skating.

So many students want to participate that they have to apply to be on the committee.

“We are especially pleased because the director of this year’s student committee is a senior from Delaware County named Katie Bonnell whose brother, Greg, is a Special Olympics athlete who will be competing in volleyball. Katie could not be with us this morning due to her class commitments, but we have three of her student committee members and her faculty advisor,” White said.

Student representatives were Lauren Cebulski, Sean Dolan and Rebecca Simoni. They accepted the resolution declaring Nov. 1-3 to be Special Olympics weekend in Delaware County along with their faculty advisor Lori Blake.

Ms. Cebulski invited everyone to come out to Fall Festival to volunteer or simply cheer on the athletes.